Managing Committees of Schools in West Bengal: Facilitator or Obstructor?

 Managing Committees of Schools in West 

       Bengal: Facilitator or Obstructor?

                                              Dr.  Keshab Chandra Mandal

                                                                                E-Mail : mandalkeshab2013@gmail.com

The existing system of managing the schools including both secondary and higher secondary in West Bengal has made a compulsory provision of having a Managing Committee at the head. Initiative taken by the government led by Smt. Mamata Banerjee has almost transformed the majority of schools from 'government aided' to 'government sponsored'. The sponsored committee is headed by a president, who is selected by the government. Actually the local MLA nominates the President and the two other persons interested in education are also nominated by the District Inspector of Schools on the recommendation of the local government representative. The system was introduced by the present government with a view to reducing political tension, turmoil and bloody contest between two rival or intra-party candidates. Moreover, the law and order and expenditure were other setback. These hazards were understood well by Smt. Banerjee and she replaced the system.

   Earlier there was no any educational bar on the government nominees i.e. anybody could be a President, where many illiterate or lowly educated presidents used to head the school committees. Besides, almost all the former Secretaries were party nominees and similar provisions were in colleges too. This had resulted tussle in several places and occasions between the Head Master and Secretary or President. Most of them were unaware of school management rules and procedures of functioning.

    Now, though the system has changed and Presidents and two other government nominees are graduate, but they have neither any basic nor professional degree of managing schools. None of them have any management degree, passed through hard competitive examinations and have any school management training. And what are their functions? They call the emergency meeting with 24 hours notice; conduct the meeting; direct the Head Master/Mistress; impose personal thoughts; decide the contractor; allot the work order; dictate the staffs; control the staffs; supervise the teaching sometime; even threaten the Head Master/Mistress; and in the name of development often make a mess of the system.

    The Presidents are mostly not aware of the various Acts and schemes like the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act (2009), West Bengal School Service Commission Act (1997), Right to Information Act (2005), Kanyashree Prokolpo, Shikshasree Prokolpo, Minority Schemes, Management of Recognized Non-Government Institutions (1963), Leave Rules, Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, Mid-Day-Meal schemes, Nirmal Vidyalaya Scheme and other national and state sponsored programmes for the smooth running of the schools.

    To whom they are responsible? They are mainly responsible to the local political representatives, who have nominated them. But, to whom the Head Masters/Mistresses are responsible? They are responsible to the S.I. of Schools, District Inspector of Schools, District Project Officer, Block Development Officer, Municipality, School Managing Committee, teachers, guardians, students, local politicians and others. In case of any mistake (in politics, there is no mistake) the Presidents are excused or perhaps mildly rebuked by the party boss. On the other hand, for every mistake the job of the Head of the Institution might be in danger - s/he might be served show cause notice; his/her salary might be stopped; increment may be stopped; cases may be lodged against him/her; demonstrations may be faced; public agitation might take place; life threatening many be occurred; beating may, ultimately, be in his/her fate.

    Now the question is why do a Head Master/Head Mistress, with so many hardships, with complete responsibilities and liabilities work under a President, who have no responsibility at all to the Government? What is the logic of compelling a minimum Master Degree holder Head Master/Mistress to work under a graduate President? The president of Managing Committee may be in larger social life an L.I.C. agent/ a grocer, a private tutor, a party whole-timer, a party worker, a booth committee member or may be an unemployed youth, he/she will be addressed by the Head of the Institution as 'Sir'/'Madam'. The S.Is, the D.Is, the BDOs, the SDOs, the DMs are being equally treated with these lowly educated, lowly knowledgeable, lesser responsible Presidents from the Head of the Institutions.

    Hence, it seems to me that the time has come for the government to reconsider the system of school management. In place of managing committees, experienced administrators (retired WBCS cadres), representatives of District Inspector of Schools (may be SIs), or College teachers with proper knowledge and awareness of school education administration might be introduced at the earliest for making India and especially our beloved West Bengal to its highest position. Moreover, the Head Masters/Mistresses being sole responsible to the government might be given free hand with some targets like the private organizations for attaining educational excellence. They might be trained with management and the interactive sessions at least twice a year with the Head of the Institutions and DIs/DPOs which has been initiated by the South 24 Parganas District Inspector of Schools and Project Officer, might be implemented in all West Bengal.

  The Presidents, being innocent of government rules or schemes, are creating problems in various schools, which are resulting the delay of development works and the disruption of management of schools. Let the Presidents be replaced with the above recommended administrators and others. Or, at least the Presidents and other Managing Committee members should be imparted training by the government agencies or school education department. With target oriented and time bound goal settings and their achievements by the Heads might make India a powerful nation by 2030.

The end.